RAYLEIGH and Wickford MP and former Armed Forces Minister Mark Francois has presented Second World War Royal Navy veteran, Alan Iles, with the Legion d’Honneur, on behalf of the French government. The award was given to Mr Iles, 92, who lives in Rayleigh
IT was agony for Southend Swifts under-16 girls team as they were edged out in the final of the National Cup. Missing four first-team regulars, including captain Georgia Powell, Swifts went down 61-47 against Nottingham Wildcats. The girls
STOCK Shotokan Karate Club won a superb 21 trophies and medals in the Presentation Cup Karate Championships. It was the first competition of the year for the Thundersley-based club in Clacton and they excelled throughout. The stand-out performer
A HOSPITAL research team has been recognised for their work aimed at helping people with heart disease.Southend Hospital’s cardiac research team has been awarded certificates of achievement for their work on an international study of comparative health
ALLEYN Court Prep School’s pupils have continued to thrive on the hockey pitch, with the under-11 team putting in a perfect performance to qualify for the Essex finals next month. The youngsters competed in the under-11 Southend competition, with
EAST Thurrock United manager John Coventry said patience was key as a last-gasp goal saw off the challenge of bottom-side Margate. Rocks needed an 88th minute winner from Lee Burns to secure the three points in the National League South. The
CRAIG Edwards believes referees may be favouring opponents over Billericay Town in recent weeks, while admitting his pride after his team reached the Ryman League Cup final. Town beat Ryman South outfit South Park 4-3 in the semi-final at New Lodge
TWO schools are considering forming a multi-academy trust.The Bromfords School, in Wickford, and the Billericay School are looking to form the trust after working closely together for some years.A multi-academy trust, known as MAT, has responsibility
PARENTS, bullies and victims now come face-to-face as part of a school crackdown on bad behaviour. Desi Mckeown, headteacher of The Deanes School, in Thundersley launched a pilot scheme to stamp out bullying by using a technique popular in prisons
FRESH plans to open a new shop and build flats on a busy corner of a town centre have been approved by council officers.Brian Greenham, from Thundersley, applied to build a shop with two flats on the corner of Stock Road and Radford Way, in Billericay.Basildon
Police investigating a theft in Basildon have released an e-fit of a man they want to speak to. A man has been attacked on Curling Tye in Basildon at 9.30pm on Thursday, January 26. The suspect then fled on foot. Anyone who recognises the
TWO men who turned the streets of Canvey into the “Wild West” during a car chase in which they repeatedly blasted another vehicle with a shotgun are facing a total of 22 years in prison. Conall Regan and Callum Hutchins were cleared of the attempted
A CHILDREN’S hospice has been given strong feedback from the health care regulator, following a recent inspection. Little Havens Children’s Hospice, in Daws Heath Road, which provides end of life care for eight children or young people aged 0 to 19, was
JASON Demetriou insists Southend United have set their sights on catching the top two teams in League One. Tuesday night’s 4-1 win at Peterborough United moved the Shrimpers up to fifth in the table, seven points behind second placed Scunthorpe
A WOMAN is taking on a challenging 24-mile walk to raise money for her step-dad who has been diagnosed with cancer.Kelly Hardy, 40, of Basildon, has been raised by her step-dad, Raymond Hazle, 63, and thinks of him as her father.Ray started developing
A CANVEY vicar is off to pastures new after nearly five years on the island. Reverend Peter Mallinson, and his wife Fiona, is today moving to the Chichester Diocese to look after four congregations and their medieval churches; St Botolph's in Hardham
A YOUNG woman who temporarily lost part of her sight after an operation has thanked a shop assistant for brightening her day after an upsetting shopping trip. Rebecca Gallimore, 23, of Church End Lane, in Runwell, has a condition called Keratoconus
A BLOOD cancer survivor enjoyed an afternoon tea with Strictly Come Dancing winner Ore Oduba, journalist John Sergeant and the cast of the Calendar Girls at a charity event. Kat Tsang-Orr, 36, from Benfleet, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma
GARON Park Golf Club clinched an impressive home victory over Belfairs Golf Club in the first round of the Ladies Daily Mail National Foursomes competition. Sonia Mundy and Debbie Wood, who represented the Southend-based golf club in the contest
THORPE Hall Golf Club’s February Bogey competition was keenly contested, as 59 members took part. Matt Capps took top spot in Division One. Alex Barnetson claimed the runners-up position, ahead of Bobby Platts on countback. Viravong Hongphakdy
POLICEare renewing their appeal for witnesses following a fatal incident where a man died after lying down on a dark country road. The road traffic collision happened at around 2.10am, Saturday February 4, in Poynters Lane, Shoebury. A Ford
A MAN has been disqualified from driving for 12 months after being caught travelling 27mph over the speed limit along the A13 in Thurrock. John Segust, 54, of Grosvenor Road, Benfleet, admitted exceeding the speed limit in a temporary 40mph speed
MEET dogs looking for their forever homes and make a donation to the charity looking after them. The Dogs Trust’s Dogmobile will be at Waitrose Southend, Fossetts Way, from 10am until 4pm today and tomorrow. There were several dogs looking
THE public have been asked to voice their views on major plans to expand Tilbury Port, with the project likely to cost in the region of £100million, A public consultation, set to start on Monday, March 6, comes as plans unfold for the proposed new port
A MAN has been charged with multiple shoplifting offences, including the theft of £400 worth of cards from Clintons. Mark Bradford, 47, who is unemployed and of no fixed address, has been charged with the following offences that are alleged to
GARON Park Golf Club welcomed 24 members to celebrate their golfing exploits at an Octogenarian Luncheon. Members of staff, the club president, chairman and captains were in attendance along with Master PGA Professional and proprietor Alan Walker
A DECENT chain restaurant in Leigh is better than a long-standing empty building, according to residents responding to a campaign to stop Pizza Express coming to town.Earlier this week, the Echo revealed how a campaign had been launched to prevent national
BUDDING bakers showed off their skills when the Seevic College Bake Off classes resumed. Catering manager Justin Arnold and head chef Becca Blythe gave expert advice to about 80 people who attended the event at the college in Runnymede Chase, Benfleet
HIGH winds are expected as storm Doris makes its way to the UK. In southend, the pier and the High Street Market is cancelled due to the strong winds. A council spokesman, said: “Due to the high winds, the Pier is unfortunately closed until
THE company that owns the Echo has given a £1,750 grant to a local charity.The money from the Gannett Foundation will go towards equipment for Basildon Mind’s allotment.The charity helps people with mental health issues by offering services, support and
A COUNCIL has warned residents of the repercussions of fly-tipping, describing it as a “blight on the local community”. It comes after three cases were prosecuted including a landlord who fly-tipped two mattresses and has been fined nearly £2,000
ELEVEN charities, including the Indee Rose Trust and the Peaceful Place, have benefited from a share of a £10,000 donation.Homeless shelters, children with life-changing illnesses, young people with dementia and the elderly are among the various groups
Philip Miller, executive chairman of the Stockvale Group which owns Adventure Island, hits back at criticism over the cancellation of the Southend Marathon Much has been said about the cancellation of the proposed Havens Hospices marathon, some
A MAN who died after breaking in to a fashion millionaire's home while armed with a baseball bat was involved in a “violent struggle” with the owner and his gardener, an inquest heard. Ricci Gallagher, 46, smashed a window to get into the farmhouse
HOMES across Rochford will still get good value for money from their local authority, the council insists after approving a tax increase of almost 3 per cent. Members of Rochford District Council voted unanimously to increase council tax for homes
Editor’s note – Wayne Tredwell was acquitted of the charges at the end of the trial A BUILDER conned a businessman out of almost £20,000 and moved to Australia after claiming to be doing work for his brother’s firm, a court heard. Wayne Tredwell
RESIDENTS have reacted in shock after a care home was rated “inadequate”... for the second time running. When the Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspected Abbottswood Lodge, in Southend, last year they discovered a string of regulatory breaches,
A NURSERY has been slammed by an inspectorate for having dirty toys and facilities “not fit for purpose”. Lilliput Village Children’s Nursery, in Burnt Mills Road, Basildon, was rated as “inadequate” by Ofsted following an inspection which highlighted
TWO suspected illegal immigrants were grabbed by two burly builders after they leapt from the back of a lorry which was delivering kitchens from Italy to Leigh yesterday morning. The lorry driver yelled “danger, danger!” as the two men, believed
A CHARITY has begged flytippers to stop targeting their shop. The South Essex Animal Trust shop in Rayleigh Road, Eastwood, has had huge piles of household rubbish dumped on its doorstep three times since Christmas. The charity believes a house
AN inspired group of volunteers are transforming a disused bus into a shelter for the homeless.Southend’s Homeless Hub hopes to raise £17,000 to fit out a double-decker bus to provide a night shelter.The converted bus will provide sleeping accommodation
A SCHOOL governor was the guest of honour at a special celebration with the Duke of Edinburgh at St James’s Palace. Ray Howard, 74, was nominated for the special role at the Duke of Edinburgh Award Gold Presentation ceremony by Essex County Council
COLLEGE bosses want to create a vocational centre, to train the mechanics, builders and engineers of tomorrow, on an industrial estate in Eastwood. South Essex College has now submitted an application to convert part of the Progress Road Industrial
A BUSY junction separating a church and its car park has been labelled a ‘death trap’ by residents trying to cross the road.Campaigners are urging for a crossing to be added near to St Mary’s Church, in Runwell Road, Runwell where people wishing to use
JASON Demetriou has revealed how scoring his first Southend United goal has lifted a massive weight off his shoulders. Despite playing on the right hand side of defence, Demetriou puts himself under pressure to get onto the score-sheet. And
WESTCLIFF’S director of rugby Rick Compton labelled his side’s 48-5 win at Colchester as a ‘very important’ victory in their National Three London & SE season. The triumph was Westcliff’s second in succession. And Compton believes it was
